Riding-spur.



Patented Mar; 4, I902.

No. 694,42l.

J. G. RIDINGS.

RIDING SPUR. (Application filed Sept. 16, 1901.)

(No llodel IIIIIIIIII/l.

RS co.. Pucrrauma, WASHINGTON. 0. c4

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. RIDINGS, OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.-

RlDlNG-SPU-R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 694,421, dated March 4, 1902. Application filed September 16,1901. Serial No. 75,483. (No model.)

- in Riding-Spurs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to riding-spurs for horsemen, and has for its object to provide a spur of neat and attractive appearance, light in weight, and of simple and durable construction. I

It consist generallyof a heel-band of the usual form, having a socket at its rear end;

The rowel of the spur is loosely journaled in the arms of a shank, which is secured in the socket, so as to be free to slide in and out thereof. Aspringisinclosed'in the socket and reacts between it and the end of the shank,

thereby serving to normally hold the shank and rowel in an extended position, but permitting the shank toslide within the socket against the tension of the spring when the spur is thrust against the sides of the animal. The extent of movement of the shank in the socket is such thatwhen it is forced inward the tines or points of the rowel engage with the rear end of the socket, thereby locking the rowel against further rotation.

panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved spur. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through one of the buttons or studs and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section through the spur, a portion of the heelband being cutaway. v

Referring to. these drawings, a is a heelband of any suitable material and of the usual construction, having integrally formed therewithat the reara socket or housing I), preferably closed at one end by a portion of the band a,which.forms a seatfor a coiled spring =0, inclosed within said housing. The outer end of the housing is open and receives one end of a rowel-shank e, the said shank carrying at its opposite end a rowel d. The rowel or studs i. The invention is illustrated in the accomwhich projects into the housing I) and en-' gages with the spring a, so that the expansive force of the spring is exerted against it and normally projects the shank from the hou'sing. To prevent entire displacement of the rowel and its shank from the housing by reason of the force exerted by the spring, a screw-bolt f is inserted into the outer end of the housing and passes through the bifurcated portion of the shank, which permits the said shank to be projected only so far as the slot formed by the bifurcated end extends. The rowel is normally free to rotate upon its axis; but when the shank is retracted by reason of the rider thrusting the spur into the sides of the animal the points of the rowel will engage the sides of the socket, and securely lock the rowel against further rotation so long as the rowel and its shank are heldin this position. By this means the rowel is locked automatically and no preadj usting or setting of any locking device is necessary be-v fore using the spur.

The front ends of the heel-band are each preferably provided upon their outer sides and considerably below the top edge of the same with lugs g, made integral therewith. To these lugs are hinged swinging cars 11, carrying at their opposite ends thestrap buttons The placing of the lugs in this position, so that the hinge will be located below the top edge of the heel-band, is desirable, as the sides of the heel-band aiford a brace or support for the swinging'ears, and thus take the strain off the hinge. Theyalso prevent the buttons from pressing inwardon the ankles when the spurs are strapped tight.

Formed upon the upper endsof the swinging arms h are the'studs or buttons 11, to which the straps for fastening the spur to the foot are intended to be attached. For the purpose of giving the spur an ornamental appearance these buttons are constructed as follows for the purpose of carrying aphotograph or other appropriate picture: At the upper ends of the arms h are formed cup-shaped disks or circular heads, that are recessed to form receptacles for the picture and its securing means, consisting of a glass covering-plate IOO is and a threaded ring Z, which is screwed onto to hold the shank normally outward, the tines the outer threaded edge j of the disk, so as to or points of the rowel being adapted to enhold the glass and picture firmly in place. gage the socket and secure the rowel against What I claim as my invention isrotation when the shank is pressed inward. 5 A riding-spur comprising a heel-band, an In testimony whereof I aflix my signature I 5 open-ended socket projecting from the rear in presence of two witnesses.

thereof, a shank having a limited sliding JOHN G. RIDINGS. movement in said socket, a rowel freely jour- Witnesses: naled at the outer end of the shank, and a W. S. MADDBEY,

IO spring inclosed within the socket and serving R. S. WARE. 

